Mortar box



sept 30, 1930;

MORTAR BOX Filed Aug. 27, 1929 H. R. LENTZ 1,776,915

Patented Sept. '30, 1930 UNITED STATES :PATENTQFF'ICE' HARRY REED LENTZ, or rHILAnELrHIA, PENNSYLVANIA MORTAR BOX Application filed August 27, 1929. Serial No. 388,777.

is adapted to cooperate with the usual hoe or rake to enable theconstituents ofthe mortar or the like to be compounded more quickly and efiicientlyand with a minimum of effort than is possible with mortar boxes of standard design. 1 v

A further object is to provide a mortar box of the character indicated which is especially adapted to be formed of sheet metal and which shall be extremely simple and inexpensive of construction, as well as durable and efficient in use.

Another object is to provide a mortar box which may be constructed of a minimum number of parts and which shall nevertheless be rigid and in all respects as practically satisfactory as the more complicated boxes of the prior art.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will sufliciently appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists, in one form .of embodiment, in the novel combination and design of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described herein, and hereinafter more particularly pointed out by the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this application for Letters Patent, whereon like reference characters indicate the same parts in the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of my present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the side members of a mortar box, which if depreferably tinned or galvanized to prevent corrosion, and which are preferably flanged along their upper edges, as shown at 2,'to impart a greater degree ofrigidity to the structure. The flanges 2 are conveniently turned inwardly to aidin preventing spilling of the contents of the box when thesame are in process of being mixed together in a manner which will be presentlydescribed.

As the boxis preferably maderectangular in plan, a pair of the sides 1 are. employed. They are joined, by Welding, soldering, brazing or equivalent means, to abottommember 3 which, as appears from the drawing, is corrugated or waved.

.It is of the essence of my present invention that the inside of upper surface of'the bottom member 3 bewa-ved and I prefer to employ the type of wave shownin the drawing,ithat is, a symmetrical series of convex and concave areas,'with lines of constant levellextending from sideto side ofthe box. The specific type of wave which I employ is one which may be characterized as providing a sine curve surface, i. e., a surface of which a vertical, longitudinal section (such as Fig; 2 of the drawings) exhibits a line disposed in the form of a sine curve ;.or, in another form of expression, a surface provided with alternate, symmetrical concave and convex areas extending transversely across the bottom in which all the highest and all the lowest points lie in two parallel planes. i a The function of the curved bottom will now be briefly explained. The box is filled with sand, lime, water and other constit uent materials to be mixed to form the mortar. A hoe or rake of standard design and size is then drawn through the mass, backwards and forwards, in contact with or in proximity to the bottom, in the usual manner. 7

I have found that the curvedform of thesurface of the bottom shown and described herein" coactswith a hoe or rake when moved across said surface to knead a plurality of different materials contained in the box into the desired intimate mixture with .much fewer strokes of the hoe or rake, and consequently sired maybe constructed of sheet metal,

with the expenditure of less labor, than would v be possible for the same quantity of materials if the mixing operation were performed in to dispense with separate end members. the I single sheet forming the bottom 3 serving also as a clorr nre l'or both ends ot the box.

The incline of these end portions aiso permitsthe mixed mat .rial to bc'(wmvenicntly scooped out/oi" the box by bucket, hee or other convenient means.

tom being waved to provide a sine curve surface, and having end portions integral with the bottom and inclined upwardly theretron'i substantially to the upper edges of the sides.

4. A mortar box having arigid bottom the inside surface of which is curved to provide alternate concave and convex areas trailsversely across the bottom in which all the highest points and all the lowest points lie in two parallel planes.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

HARRY REED LEFT/Z.

The end portions are preferably provided 7 i with flanges 5, for the purpose of llli'l'tiilfimy; the rigidity of the metal, these flanges being disposed outwardly to prevent interference with the removal. of material from the box. v I

Pertorations 6, 6, may be provided in the sides 1, 1, below the bottom 3 to receive bolts. rods or the like fastening means to secure the box to'lixed supports and prevent {lit-ll'lltlCG- ment of the same when in operation.

It is to be understood that while I have described a box embodying the principles of my present invention constructed of sheet metal, the invention readily lends itself "to incorporation in a wooden box; or one made ol any convenient material, the sheet metal constrm-tion being shown and described herein merely by way of excmplil'ication. ()ther and further mrulil'ications in speeii'ie e'mbodi ments of the invention will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art to which it relates. but all such modifications are to be regarded within the spirit oi the invention and the scope and purview oi? the appended claims.

. Haviiiig thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mortar box having rigid bottom the inside or which is waved to provide a sine curve surface adapted to coact with an implemei'it moved across said surtace to knead a plurality of materials contained in the box into an intimate mixture.

2. i mortar box having a. bottom formed from a single length of sheet metal bent to provide a sine curve surface adapte il to coact with an implement moved across said surface to knea d av plurality oi materials contained in the box into an intimate mixture.

3. A mortar box having a pair of parallel sides and a substantially non-yielding bottom, the upper or mside 'l'ace oi? the botav substantially upper face of i 

